JP2016184043A - Developer supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner conveyance part that enables easy assembly of a developer supply device compared with a case where an expansion member formed of a rubber tube is provided at a part of a developer conveyance path.SOLUTION: A toner conveyance part comprises: a toner conveyance member 128 that conveys a toner to a developing device; a joint member 130 that is displaceably attached to an end 128a on the developing device side of the toner conveyance member 128 relative to the toner conveyance member 128, and is joined to the developing device so as to supply a toner; and an elastic member 160 that is interposed between the toner conveyance member 128 and the joint member 130, and includes a guide hole 161 that guides the toner from the toner conveyance member 128 to the joint member 130.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer supply device and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a developer supply device is used, for example, to supply a developer stored in a developer storage container to a developing device of an image forming unit that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. At this time, as a technique that can cope with a relative positional shift generated between the developer supply device on the image forming apparatus main body side and the developing device on the image forming unit side, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are disclosed. It has already been proposed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 includes a developing device having a device main body fixed to the developing device side, and a connecting portion formed of a bellows-like rubber tube that is assembled to the device main body so as to be displaceable and connectable to a conveyance path to a developer introduction port. A developer supply device having a developer supply member is described.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an expansion / contraction member formed of a bellows-like rubber tube that expands and contracts so as to absorb a relative positional shift between a supply port provided at a leading end of a conveyance path of a developer supply device and a reception port of a development device. An image forming apparatus provided is described.

JP 2010-117658 A JP 2012-203386 A

  An object of the present invention is to make it easier to assemble a developer replenishing device as compared with a case where an elastic member made of a rubber tube is provided in a part of a developer conveyance path.

The invention described in claim 1 includes a developer conveying member that conveys the developer to the developing device;
A joining member that is attached to an end of the developer conveying member on the developing device side so as to be relatively displaceable with the developer conveying member, and is joined to the developing device so that the developer can be replenished;
An elastic member interposed between the developer conveying member and the joining member, and having a guide hole for guiding the developer from the developer conveying member to the joining member;
A developer replenishing device.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is accommodated in a recess provided in the joining member.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the elastic member is provided in a state of being fixed to an end surface of the developer conveying member on the developing device side. It is a medicine supply device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer transport member and the joining member intersect the developer transport direction and the developer transport direction via a relatively projecting portion and a recessed portion. 4. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishing device is connected so as to allow movement in a direction in which the developer replenishes.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, when the joining member is joined to the developing device, the joining member is displaced toward the developer conveying member together with the developing device. A developer replenishing device according to claim 1.

The invention described in claim 6 is an image holding body for holding an electrostatic latent image on the surface;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image held on the surface of the image carrier with a developer;
Developer supplying means for supplying developer to the developing means;
With
An image forming apparatus using the developer supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 as the developer supply means.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the developing means is provided so as to be swingable about a swing fulcrum in a direction in which the developing means comes in contact with and separates from the image carrier. The image forming apparatus described in the above.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the image holding member and the developing means constitute an image forming unit that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus described in the above.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the assembly of the developer replenishing device as compared with the case where an elastic member made of a rubber tube is provided in a part of the developer conveying path.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the elastic member can be easily attached as compared with the case where the joining member does not include the concave portion for accommodating the elastic member.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the elastic member relative to the developer conveying member as compared with the case where the elastic member is not fixed to the end surface of the developer conveying member on the developing device side. it can.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer conveying member and the joining member are simply connected as compared with the case where the developer conveying member and the joining member are not relatively provided with a convex portion and a concave portion. be able to.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the joining member is not displaced toward the developer transporting member together with the developing device when joining the developing device, the space between the developer transporting member and the joining member is smaller. It can suppress that a clearance gap arises in the.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is easier to assemble the image forming apparatus provided with the developer replenishing device as compared with the case where the elastic member made of the rubber tube is provided in a part of the developer conveying path. can do.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the positioning accuracy of the developing unit with respect to the image holding member can be improved as compared with the case where the developing unit is not provided swingably with respect to the image holding member.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the maintenance of the image forming apparatus is facilitated as compared with the case where the image forming unit having the image carrier and the developing means is not configured to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. It can be carried out.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which a developer supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows a process cartridge. It is a perspective view showing a process cartridge. It is a rear view which shows a process cartridge. It is a perspective view showing a process cartridge. It is a perspective block diagram which shows the mounting part of a process cartridge. It is a perspective block diagram which shows the mounting part of a process cartridge. It is a front view which shows the mounting part of a process cartridge. It is a front view which shows the principal part of the mounting part of a process cartridge. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the principal part of the mounting part of a process cartridge. 1 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a developer supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a developer supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective block diagram which shows the principal part of the developer supply apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the developer supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The same figure (a) (b) is a perspective view which shows a holder member, respectively. FIGS. 4A to 4C are a top perspective view, a bottom perspective view and a plan view showing a holder member. FIG. 2 is a partially broken back configuration diagram illustrating a main part of the developer supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the principal part of the developer supply apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B are structural views respectively showing main parts of a developing device to which the developer supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIGS. 9A and 9B are configuration diagrams respectively showing the operation of the developer supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the principal part of the developer supply apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an entire image forming apparatus to which a developer replenishing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part (image forming device, etc.) in the image forming apparatus. ing.

<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is configured as a color printer, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 holds a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 that form toner images developed with toner constituting the developer 4 and the toner images formed by the respective image forming apparatuses 10 and finally An intermediate transfer device 20 that transports to a recording sheet 5 as an example of a recording medium to a secondary transfer position for secondary transfer, and a required recording sheet 5 that should be supplied to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer device 20 is accommodated and transported. And a fixing device 40 for fixing the toner image on the recording paper 5 secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 20. In the figure, reference numeral 1a denotes a main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and the main body 1a is formed of a support structure member, an exterior cover, and the like.

  The image forming device 10 includes four image forming devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that respectively form four color toner images exclusively for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is configured. These four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged so as to be arranged in a line in an inclined state in the internal space of the main body 1a.

  Each image forming apparatus 10 (Y, M, C, K) includes a rotating photosensitive drum 11 as an example of an image holding member as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and this photosensitive drum 11. Each apparatus as an example of the following toner image forming means is mainly disposed around the apparatus. The main devices are a charging device 12 that charges a peripheral surface (image holding surface) on the photosensitive drum 11 on which an image can be formed to a required potential, and image information (on the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11). Exposure apparatus 13 that irradiates light based on (signal) to form an electrostatic latent image (for each color) having a potential difference, and developer of the corresponding color (Y, M, C, K). A developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K) that is developed with toner 4 to form a toner image, and a primary transfer device 15 (Y) as an example of a primary transfer unit that transfers each toner image to the intermediate transfer device 20. , M, C, K) and a drum cleaning device 16 (Y, M, C, K) that removes and removes adhering matters such as toner remaining on the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer. Etc.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is formed by forming an image holding surface having a photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) made of a photosensitive material on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical or columnar base material to be grounded. The photosensitive drum 11 is supported so as to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow A when power is transmitted from a rotation driving device (not shown).

  The charging device 12 includes a contact-type charging roll that is disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 11. A charging voltage is supplied to the charging device 12. As the charging voltage, when the developing device 14 performs reversal development, a voltage or current having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner supplied from the developing device 14 is supplied. As the charging device 12, a non-contact type charging device such as a scorotron disposed in a non-contact state on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 may be used.

  The exposure device 13 forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the circumferential surface of the charged photosensitive drum 11 with light configured according to image information input to the image forming apparatus 1. Is. When the latent image is formed, image information (signal) input to the image forming apparatus 1 by any means is transmitted to the exposure apparatus 13.

  The exposure device 13 irradiates the photosensitive drum 11 with light corresponding to image information by LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as a plurality of light emitting elements arranged along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11 to electrostatic latent images. The LED print head that forms As the exposure device 13, a device that deflects and scans laser light configured according to image information along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11 may be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the developing devices 14 (Y, M, C, and K) all have a developer 4 inside the housing 140 in which an opening and a storage chamber for the developer 4 are formed. The first and second agitating and conveying such as a developing roll 141 that holds the toner and conveys it to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 11 and two screw augers that convey the developer 4 while passing the developing roll 141 while stirring. The members 142 and 143 and the layer thickness regulating member 144 that regulates the amount (layer thickness) of the developer held on the developing roll 141 are arranged. A developing voltage is supplied to the developing device 14 from a power supply device (not shown) between the developing roll 141 and the photosensitive drum 11. Further, the developing roll 141 and the agitating / conveying members 142 and 143 are rotated in a required direction by receiving power from a rotation driving device (not shown). Further, as the four-color developer 4 (Y, M, C, K), a two-component developer containing a nonmagnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used. A developer containing at least toner is supplied to the developing device 14 at a required timing by a developer supply device described later. Note that as the four color developers 4 (Y, M, C, K), a one-component developer composed only of toner may be used.

  The primary transfer device 15 (Y, M, C, K) is in contact with the periphery of the photosensitive drum 11 via an intermediate transfer belt 21 and rotates, and a contact type provided with a primary transfer roll to which a primary transfer voltage is supplied. This is a transfer device. As the primary transfer voltage, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is supplied from a power supply device (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drum cleaning device 16 includes a container-shaped main body 160 that covers a region that partially opens and extends below the charging device 12, and the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer. The cleaning plate 161 is disposed so as to be in contact with the peripheral surface at a required pressure and removes deposits such as residual toner and is cleaned, and the deposits such as toner removed by the cleaning plate 161 are collected and collected in a collection system (not shown). It consists of a delivery member 162 such as a screw auger that conveys the feed. As the cleaning plate 161, a plate-like member (for example, a blade) made of a material such as rubber is used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate transfer device 20 is disposed so as to exist at a position above each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K). The intermediate transfer device 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow B while passing a primary transfer position between the photosensitive drum 11 and the primary transfer device 15 (primary transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer belt 21. Are arranged on the outer peripheral surface (image holding surface) side of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support rolls 25 and a plurality of belt support rolls 22 to 26 that hold the toner in a desired state from the inner surface thereof. The secondary transfer device 30 as an example of a secondary transfer member for secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the recording paper 5, and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after passing through the secondary transfer device 30 And a belt cleaning device 27 that removes and adheres toner, paper dust, and other adhering matter.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 21, for example, an endless belt made of a material in which a resistance adjusting agent such as carbon black is dispersed in a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or polyamide resin is used. The belt support roll 22 is configured as a drive roll that is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown), the belt support roll 23 is configured as a driven roll that holds the traveling position of the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the belt support roll 24 is an intermediate The belt support roll 25 is configured as a secondary transfer backup roll, and the belt support roll 26 covers the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 to be cleaned by the belt cleaning device 27. It is comprised as a support roll to support.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary transfer device 30 is configured to move the intermediate transfer belt 21 at a secondary transfer position that is an outer peripheral surface portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 25 in the intermediate transfer device 20. The contact type transfer device includes a secondary transfer roll 31 that rotates in contact with a peripheral surface and is supplied with a secondary transfer voltage. Further, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite or the same as the charging polarity of the toner is supplied as a secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer roll 31 or the support roll 25 of the intermediate transfer device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the belt cleaning device 27 is configured in the same manner as the drum cleaning device 16, and is required on the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer and the container-shaped main body 270 that is partially opened. The cleaning plate 271 is disposed so as to be in contact with the pressure and removes the adhering matter such as residual toner and is cleaned, and the adhering material such as the toner removed by the cleaning plate 271 is collected and conveyed to be sent to a collecting system (not shown). It consists of a delivery member 272 such as a screw auger. As the cleaning plate 271, a plate-like member (for example, a blade) made of a material such as rubber is used.

  The fixing device 40 includes a drum-type or belt-type heating rotator 41 heated by a heating unit so that the surface temperature is maintained at a required temperature, and a predetermined pressure in a state substantially along the axial direction of the heating rotator 41. A drum-type or belt-type pressurizing rotating body 42 that rotates in contact with the nozzle is arranged. In the fixing device 40, a contact portion where the heating rotator 41 and the pressing rotator 42 come into contact becomes a fixing processing unit that performs a required fixing process (heating and pressing).

  The sheet feeding device 50 is disposed so as to be present at a position below the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K). Is done. The paper feeding device 50 is a single (or plural) paper container 51 that accommodates recording papers 5 of a desired size and type, and sends out the recording paper 5 from the paper container 51 one by one. It is mainly composed of devices 52 and 53. The paper container 51 is attached, for example, so that it can be pulled out to the front side (side surface on which the user faces during operation) of the main body 1a, that is, the left side surface in the illustrated example.

  Examples of the recording paper 5 include plain paper and OHP sheets used for electrophotographic copying machines and printers. In order to further improve the smoothness of the image surface after fixing, the surface of the recording medium 5 is preferably as smooth as possible. For example, coated paper in which the surface of plain paper is coated with resin, art paper for printing, etc. So-called cardboard having a relatively large basis weight can be used.

  Between the paper feeding device 50 and the secondary transfer device 30, a single (or plural) paper conveyance roll pair 54, a conveyance guide 55, and the like that convey the recording paper 5 delivered from the paper supply device 50 to the secondary transfer position. Is provided. The pair of paper transport rolls 54 is configured as, for example, a roll (registration roll) that adjusts the transport timing of the recording paper 5. Further, a conveyance guide for conveying the recording sheet 5 after the secondary transfer fed from the secondary transfer roll 31 of the secondary transfer device 30 to the fixing device 40 between the secondary transfer device 30 and the fixing device 40. 57, 58, etc. are provided. Further, in a portion near the paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, the recording paper 5 after fixing sent out from the fixing device 40 is fed to a paper discharge section 60 provided on the upper portion of the main body 1a along the conveyance guide 59. A paper discharge roll pair 61 for discharging is disposed.

  Between the fixing device 40 and the paper discharge roll pair 61, a switching gate 62 for switching the paper transport path is provided. The rotation direction of the paper discharge roll pair 61 can be switched between a normal rotation direction (discharge direction) and a reverse rotation direction. When images are formed on both sides of the recording paper 5, after the rear end of the recording paper 5 having an image formed on one side passes through the switching gate 62, the rotation direction of the paper discharge roll pair 61 is set to the normal rotation direction (discharge). Direction) to reverse direction. The recording paper 5 transported in the reverse direction by the paper discharge roll pair 61 is transported to the double-sided transport path 63 formed so as to be substantially along the vertical direction by switching the transport path by the switching gate 62. The duplex conveyance path 63 includes a sheet conveyance roll pair 64 that conveys the recording sheet 5 to the sheet conveyance roll pair 54 with the front and back sides reversed, and conveyance guides 65 to 68.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 70 denotes a manual feed tray that is openably and closably provided on the front surface (left side surface in the drawing) of the image forming apparatus main body 1 a. Between the manual feed tray 70 and the pair of paper transporting rolls 54, A feeding device 71 that feeds the recording sheets 5 stored in the manual feed tray 70 one by one, and a manual paper feed path 76 that includes a plurality of paper feed roll pairs 72 to 74, a feed guide 75, and the like are provided.

  Further, reference numeral 145 (Y, M, C, K) in FIG. 1 is arranged in plural along a direction orthogonal to the paper surface, and at least the toner supplied to the corresponding developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K). FIG. 4 illustrates a toner cartridge as an example of a developer container that contains a developer that contains the developer.

  Further, reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1 indicates a control device that comprehensively controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a bus connecting these CPU and ROM, a communication interface, and the like (not shown).

<Process cartridge configuration>
By the way, in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 11 and the image forming member including the charging device 12, the developing device 14, and the drum cleaning device 16 disposed around the photosensitive drum 11 are integrally unitized. The process cartridge 80 as an example of the image forming unit is configured. Note that the exposure apparatus 13 is unitized separately from the process cartridge 80.

  4 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge 80 as viewed obliquely from the front side along the mounting direction, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the process cartridge 80 as viewed from the front end side (back side) along the mounting direction. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge 80 as viewed from the diagonally lower side along the mounting direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the process cartridge 80 is an example of an image forming unit main body in which the photosensitive drum 11, the charging device 12, the developing device 14, and the drum cleaning device 16 are integrally mounted. A process cartridge main body 81 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the process cartridge main body 81 is disposed at the front and rear end portions along the mounting direction of the housing 140 of the developing device 14, the main body 160 of the drum cleaning device 16, and the process cartridge 80, respectively. Frame members 82, 83a and the like.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably mounted on the frame members 82 and 83a of the process cartridge main body 81. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the developing device 14 is swingable in a direction in which the developing roll 141 is in contact with and away from the photosensitive drum 11 with respect to the process cartridge main body 81 around the swing fulcrum 146. Is attached. Further, the developing device 14 is elastic such as a coil spring spanned between the housing 140 of the developing device 14 and the frame members 82 and 83a of the process cartridge main body 81 on which the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably mounted. A tracking roll (not shown) as a gap setting member disposed at both ends along the axial direction of the developing roll 141 is configured to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the member 147. With this configuration, the gap (so-called DRS) between the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roll 141 is accurately set to a required value. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a first driving force transmission unit 77 that transmits a driving force to the photosensitive drum 11 and a developing roll 141 are provided on the end surface on the front end side along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80. And a second driving force transmitting portion 78 that transmits the driving force to each other in a protruding state.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the process cartridge 80 is detachably mounted along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11 to a unit mounting portion 90 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1a.

  Inside the image forming apparatus main body 1 a, a unit mounting portion 90 is disposed above the manual paper feed path 76. The unit mounting portion 90 corresponds to the process cartridge 80 (Y, M, C, K) of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body 1a. And four cartridge support portions 91 (Y, M, C, K) extending in the left-right direction. The image forming apparatus 10 (Y, M, C, K) composed of the process cartridges 80 (Y, M, C, K) has a relatively high yellow (Y) side as shown in FIG. The black (K) side is inclined so as to be relatively low. Therefore, the four cartridge support portions 91 (Y, M, C, K) are relatively high on the yellow (Y) cartridge support portion 91Y side following the image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K). The black (K) cartridge support portion 91K side is disposed in an inclined state so as to be relatively low.

  The four cartridge support portions 91 (Y, M, C, K) are basically configured similarly. As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge support portion 91 includes a mounting base 92 formed in a stepped shape so as to mount the exposure apparatus 13 unitized separately from the process cartridge 80, and a process cartridge of the mounting base 92. Guide surface that guides the bottom surface corresponding to the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80 that is provided in a concave shape adjacent to the side along the direction (Y direction) intersecting the mounting direction (X direction) of 80. 93.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the cartridge support portion 91 is reversed upward at one end portion along the direction (Y direction) intersecting the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80 of the mounting base 92. A second guide comprising a first guide portion 94 provided in a shape protruding in an L-shape, and a protrusion protruding from the side surface of the housing 13a of the exposure apparatus 13 unitized mounted on the mounting base 92. Part 95.

  When the process cartridge 80 is mounted on the cartridge support portion 91, the first guide portion 94 of the cartridge support portion 91 is provided below the charging device 12 of the process cartridge 80, as shown in FIGS. The second guide portion 95 is inserted into the concave portion 83, and guides the process cartridge 80 by being inserted into the concave portion 84 provided on the inner surface of the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80. On the other hand, the guide surface 93 of the cartridge support portion 91 guides the process cartridge 80 by accommodating the lower end portion of the developing device 14.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the process cartridge 80 is mistakenly inserted into a different cartridge support portion 91 at the end of the cartridge support portion 91 along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. In order to prevent mounting, the incompatible recess 96 is provided so that only the corresponding process cartridge 80 can be mounted on the cartridge support 91. The incompatible recess 96 is formed in the mounting direction (X direction) for each of the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) process cartridges 80 (Y, M, C, K). The positions along the intersecting direction (Y direction) are different. On the other hand, the bottom surface of the frame member 82 provided at the end on the near side along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80 is mounted only in the recess 96 of the corresponding cartridge support portion 91 as shown in FIG. A non-interchangeable convex portion 85 is provided so as to be possible.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus main body 1 a has a first end of the photosensitive drum 11 provided in the process cartridge 80 at the back end along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. A positioning member 97 is provided which is positioned relative to the driving force transmitting portion 77 so as to move the end of the process cartridge 80 to the operation position set upward. That is, the positioning member 97 of the image forming apparatus main body 1a makes the first driving force transmitting portion 77 of the process cartridge 80 more than the first driving force transmitting portion 77 of the process cartridge 80 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1a. It is a member for positioning to the operation position set to the high position. As shown in FIG. 10, the positioning member 97 supports the first driving force transmitting portion 77 of the photosensitive drum 11 below the front end portion along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. A semicircular support member 98 and an elastic member 99 made of a coil spring that biases the support member 98 upward are provided. When the first driving force transmission portion 77 of the photosensitive drum 11 of the process cartridge 80 comes into contact with the positioning member 97, the support member 98 moves downward due to the weight of the process cartridge 80. This is a member for facilitating the positioning operation for inserting the first driving force transmitting portion 77 into the positioning member 97.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, a lift lever 86 for moving the process cartridge 80 to the upper operating position is freely rotatable at the front end along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 11, the elevating lever 86 is attached to the frame member 82 of the process cartridge 80 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 861. The elevating lever 86 has an abutting portion 863 to which an elastic force is applied in a direction away from the rotating shaft 861 via a coil spring 862.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the lift lever 86 is rotated to a position where the process cartridge 80 is tilted toward the front side of the process cartridge 80 before the process cartridge 80 is mounted at a required operation position. Then, the lift lever 86 moves the process cartridge 80 to the operation position of the cartridge support portion 91, and then is approximately 90 degrees so as to be substantially parallel to the front end surface of the process cartridge 80, as shown in FIG. It is rotated. By this operation, the lifting / lowering lever 86 moves the end on the near side along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80 to the upper operating position based on the lever principle around the rotation shaft 861. Note that, as described above, the rear end portion of the process cartridge 80 has been moved to the operation position that is already positioned above. At this time, the photosensitive drum 11 of the process cartridge 80 is stopped at the operating position in contact with the primary transfer device 15 via the intermediate transfer belt 21, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the upper end surface 82a of the frame member 82 on the near side along the mounting direction is formed at the front end along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. It is positioned at the operating position by being abutted against the lower surface of the abutting portion 79 of the apparatus main body 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the process cartridge 80 is provided with a grip portion 87 that a user grips with hand when the process cartridge 80 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1. The process cartridge 80 does not need to include all of the image forming members such as the photosensitive drum 11 and the charging device 12, the developing device 14, and the drum cleaning device 15 disposed around the photosensitive drum 11. Among these image forming members, the image forming member may be composed of the photosensitive drum 11, the charging device 12 and the developing device 14, or may be composed of the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing device 14.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the process cartridge 80 is mounted at a required operation position of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, thereby receiving driving force and power from the image forming apparatus main body 1a side.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
Hereinafter, a basic image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  Here, using the four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K), an operation of forming a full-color image configured by combining toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K). Will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 receives four image forming apparatuses 10 (Y, M, C, K) and intermediate transfer upon receiving command information for requesting an image forming operation (printing). The device 20, the secondary transfer device 30, the fixing device 40, etc. are started.

  In each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K), each photoconductor drum 11 is first rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow A, and each charging device 12 makes a required surface of each photoconductor drum 11 on the surface. Each is charged to a polarity (negative polarity in the first embodiment) and a potential. Subsequently, the exposure apparatus 13 converts the image information input to the image forming apparatus 1 into each color component (Y, M, C, K) with respect to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after charging. The light emitted on the basis of the signal is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image of each color component composed of a required potential difference on the surface.

  Subsequently, each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) corresponds to the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the photosensitive drum 11 charged to a required polarity (minus polarity). Color (Y, M, C, K) toner is supplied from the developing roll 141 and electrostatically attached to perform development. By this development, the electrostatic latent images of the respective color components formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are visualized as toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K) respectively developed with the corresponding color toners. It becomes.

  Subsequently, when each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 of each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) is conveyed to the primary transfer position, the primary transfer device 15 causes each color image. The toner image is primarily transferred in a state where the toner image is sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow B of the intermediate transfer device 20.

  Further, in each image forming apparatus 10 for which the primary transfer has been completed, the drum cleaning device 16 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by removing the adhered material so as to scrape off. Thereby, each image forming apparatus 10 is brought into a state in which the next image forming operation can be performed.

  Subsequently, in the intermediate transfer device 20, the toner image primarily transferred by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is held and conveyed to the secondary transfer position. On the other hand, the paper feeding device 50 sends out the required recording paper 5 to the paper feeding conveyance path 56 in accordance with the image forming operation. In the paper feed transport path 56, a pair of paper transport rolls 54 as registration rolls feeds the recording paper 5 to the secondary transfer position in accordance with the transfer timing.

  At the secondary transfer position, the secondary transfer roll 31 of the secondary transfer device 30 collectively transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the recording paper 5. Further, in the intermediate transfer device 20 after the secondary transfer is completed, the belt cleaning device 27 removes adhered matters such as toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer, and cleans it.

  Subsequently, the recording paper 5 on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the secondary transfer roll 31 and then conveyed to the fixing device 40 via the conveyance guides 57 and 58. In the fixing device 40, necessary recording processing (heating and pressing) is performed by introducing the recording paper 5 after the secondary transfer through the contact portion between the rotating heating rotating body 41 and the pressing rotating body 42 and passing it therethrough. ) To fix the unfixed toner image on the recording paper 5. Finally, the recording paper 5 after the fixing is completed is, for example, a paper set on the upper portion of the main body 1a by the paper discharge roll pair 61 in the image forming operation only for forming an image on one side. It is discharged to the discharge unit 60.

  Further, when forming images on both sides of the recording paper 5, the recording paper 5 with the image formed on one side is not discharged to the paper discharge section 60 by the paper discharge roll pair 61, but the paper discharge roll pair 61 is used as the recording paper. While the rear end of the sheet 5 is held, the rotation direction of the sheet discharge roll pair 61 is switched to the reverse direction. The recording paper 5 conveyed in the reverse direction by the paper discharge roll pair 61 passes through the upper part of the switching gate 62 and then passes through the double-sided conveyance path 63 provided with the paper conveyance roll pair 64, the conveyance guides 65 to 68, and the like. The paper is transported to the pair of paper transport rollers 54 with the front and back sides reversed. The pair of paper transporting rolls 54 feeds the recording paper 5 to the secondary transfer position in accordance with the transfer timing, forms an image on the back surface of the recording paper 5, and is installed on the upper portion of the main body 1a by the paper discharge roll pair 61. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 60.

  Through the above operation, the recording paper 5 on which a full color image formed by combining four color toner images is output.

<Configuration of toner supply device>
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each image forming apparatus 10 (Y) of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is used. , M, C, K), the developer 4 accommodated in the developing device 14 of each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) in accordance with the image forming operation for forming the corresponding color toner image. Is consumed.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 1 develops each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The apparatus 14 includes a toner replenishing device 110 (Y, M, C, K) as an example of a developer replenishing device that replenishes developer containing at least toner of a corresponding color at a required timing. Each toner replenishing device 110 (Y, M, C, K) is basically configured similarly. In this embodiment, the developer replenishing device is configured to replenish only the toner to the developing device 14, but may be configured to replenish the developer 4 composed of toner and carrier to the developing device 14. . At that time, the developer 4 replenished to the developing device 14 is set to have a higher toner concentration than the developer 4 in the developing device 14 as necessary.

  The toner replenishing device 110 includes a mounting member 111 on which a toner cartridge 145 as an example of a developer container is mounted, and a developer transport member that transports toner from the toner cartridge 145 mounted on the mounting member 111 to the developing device 14. As an example, the toner conveying member 120 and the end of the toner conveying member 120 on the developing device 14 side are displaceable relative to the toner conveying member 120. As an example, the toner conveying direction (Z direction in the figure) and the toner conveying member 120 A holder member 130 as an example of a joining member that is attached so as to allow movement in a direction (Y direction in the figure) that intersects the toner conveyance direction and is joined to the developing device 14 so that toner can be supplied; It has.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the toner conveying member 120 includes a first toner conveying portion 121 that conveys toner to the lower end portion of the mounting member 111 along the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 145, and the first toner conveying portion 121. A second toner conveying unit 122 that conveys toner from one end to an upper part of the position corresponding to the end in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the developing device 14 of the corresponding image forming apparatus 10; And a third toner conveying unit 123 that conveys the toner downward from the front end of the toner conveying unit 122 along the vertical direction (Z direction) toward the developing device 14. Note that the toner conveying member 120 corresponding to yellow does not have the second toner conveying unit 122 because of the arrangement of the yellow developing device 14Y, and the first toner conveying unit 121Y and the third toner are not included. It is comprised from the conveyance part 123Y. The second and third toner conveying units 122 and 123 are set to have different lengths due to the arrangement relationship between the corresponding color toner cartridge 145 and the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80. The second and third toner transport units 122M and 123M corresponding to magenta color have the shortest length, and the second and third toner transport units 122C, 123C and 122K and 123K corresponding to cyan and black colors are sequentially long. Is configured to be long.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the first toner transport unit 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape in a first toner transport path forming member 124, and is rotatable inside the first toner transport path forming member 124. And a first agitating and conveying member 125 made of a screw auger or the like. The first toner transport path forming member 124 has a toner receiving port 124 a that is opened at a position corresponding to a toner supply port (not shown) of the toner cartridge 145. Further, the first toner transport path forming member 124 has an opening 124b that transports the toner to the second toner transport section 122 at the front end along the transport direction of the first stirring transport member 125. Have.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the second toner transport unit 122 rotates into a cylindrical second toner transport path forming member 126 that transports toner and the second toner transport path forming member 126. And a second agitating / conveying member 127 made of a screw auger or the like that is freely arranged. The second toner conveyance path forming member 126 has an opening (not shown) that conveys the toner to the third toner conveyance unit 123 at the tip end along the conveyance direction of the second agitation conveyance member 127. doing.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 18, the third toner transport unit 123 includes a cylindrical third toner transport path forming member 128 that transports toner, and the third toner transport path forming member 128. And a conveying member 129 made of a metal wire material such as an agitator formed in a spiral shape. The third toner conveyance path forming member 128 is disposed along a substantially vertical direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1a. The upper end portion of the conveying member 129 is connected to a crank portion (not shown) provided at the tip of the second stirring and conveying member 127. The conveying member 129 is driven so as to reciprocate along the vertical direction in accordance with the rotation operation of the crank portion of the second agitating and conveying member 127, and the toner introduced into the third toner conveying path forming member 128 is substantially omitted. It is conveyed so as to drop downward along the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the lower end portion 128a of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 is a front end side end portion along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80 mounted at the operating position. It is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to above. As shown in FIG. 10, the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 is fixed by a fixing tool 128b whose middle portion is screwed to the side frame 1b in the image forming apparatus main body 1a.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, at the lower end of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128, toner conveyance direction (Z direction) is provided on both side surfaces along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. ) And a protrusion 150 constituting one of engagement portions (snap fit portions) to which the holder member 130 is attached so as to be displaceable in a direction (Y direction) intersecting the toner conveyance direction. Yes. The protrusion 150 projects from the side surface of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 to the side of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 from the upper end surface 150a projecting so as to be substantially horizontal to the side. A side surface is formed in a substantially right triangle shape from an inclined surface 150b formed to be inclined toward the surface. Further, a frame portion 151 having a rectangular side surface is provided on the outer periphery of the protruding portion 150 so as to surround the outer periphery of the protruding portion 150.

  In addition, a flat square flange portion 152 is provided integrally with the frame portion 151 on the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128. The frame portion 151 and the side surface 151a of the flange portion 152 form a plane that guides an engaging portion (snap fit portion) on the holder member 130 side, which will be described later. Further, a joint portion 153 formed in a short cylindrical shape downward is provided at the lower end of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128.

  As shown in FIG. 15, an elastic member 160 is interposed between the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 and the holder member 130. The elastic member 160 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped from an elastic body such as foamed polyurethane or compression-molded foamed polyurethane. The elastic member 160 has a required thickness (for example, about 4 to 5 mm). The elastic member 160 is formed with a planar circular guide hole 161 through which the toner is guided from the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 toward the holder member 130.

  As shown in FIGS. 15, 16, and 17, the holder member 130 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin in a planar rectangular shape. The upper surface 131 of the holder member 130 is provided with a connecting portion 132 connected to the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 in a state where the elastic member 160 is accommodated at one end portion along the longitudinal direction. The connecting portion 132 includes a storage portion 133 that is a flat square recess that stores the elastic member 160. The accommodating portion 133 crosses the front and rear side walls 133a and 133b provided on both side surfaces along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80 on the upper surface 131 of the holder member 130, and the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. It is composed of left and right side walls 133c, 133d provided on both sides along the (Y direction) and a bottom wall 133e provided at the bottom of the accommodating portion 133.

  Further, the holder member 130 is a second engagement portion (snap fit) integrally formed at the upper end portions of the front and rear side walls 133a and 133b of the housing portion 133 toward the third toner transport path forming member 128 side. Part) 134. The second engaging portion 134 is formed in a flat plate shape having a concave portion (opening portion) 135 having a rectangular side surface that is relatively engaged with the protrusion 150 serving as the first engaging portion. The opening 135 of the second engaging portion 134 is set larger than the side shape of the protruding portion 150 so that a gap is formed between the opening 135 and the protruding portion 150. Therefore, when the second engagement portion 134 is relatively engaged with the protrusion 150 of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128, the holder member 130 moves in the toner conveyance direction (Z direction) and the toner. It is attached so as to be displaceable so as to allow movement along a direction (Y direction) intersecting the transport direction. The second engaging portion 134 has an upper end formed thinner than the lower end, and is elastically deformed when engaged with the protrusion 150 of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128. Is easy.

  On the other hand, a circular supply port 133f corresponding to the guide hole 161 of the elastic member 160 is opened in the bottom wall 133e of the accommodating portion 133 of the holder member 130 as shown in FIG. A shutter member 136 for opening and closing the supply port 133f is slidably mounted on the lower end surface 133g of the holder member 130. The lower end surface 133g of the holder member 130 is provided with a flat plate-like holding portion 137 having a narrow width and formed in parallel to the lower end surface 133g toward the inside at both ends in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. The shutter member 136 is slidably held in a recess 138 formed by the lower end surface 133 g of the holder member 130 and the holding portion 137. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, a compressed coil spring 139 that biases the shutter member 136 in a direction in which the supply port 133f is closed is disposed on the lower end surface 133g of the holder member 130. The coil spring 139 includes a cylindrical convex portion 130b provided on the side wall 130a that is suspended from the end of the holder member 130 opposite to the housing portion 133, and a receiving portion 136a that is suspended from the lower surface of the shutter member 136. It is arranged so as to be interposed therebetween. In addition, the shutter member 136 has an arm portion 136b provided so as to protrude from both side surfaces of the shutter member 136 abutting against a stopper portion 137a provided on the lower surface of the holding portion 137 of the holder member 130, thereby closing the supply port 133f. Stop in the state.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, the developing device 14 provided in the process cartridge 80 has a housing of the developing device 14 on the upper end surface of the front end portion along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80. A toner supply port 148 for supplying toner is provided inside the body 140. A shutter member 149 for opening and closing the supply port 148 is attached to the toner supply port 148 of the developing device 14. The shutter member 149 is slidably attached to both end portions of the replenishing portion where the replenishing port 148 is formed. Further, the shutter member 149 is urged so as to close the supply port 148 by a coil spring 149a. As shown in FIG. 20, the shutter member 149 is formed in substantially the same shape as the holder member 130, and both end portions of the supply portion where the supply port 148 is formed are formed in substantially the same shape as the shutter member 136. Has been. As a result, when the process cartridge 80 is mounted, the holder member 130 pushes the shutter member 149 so that the supply port 148 is opened, and the toner supply port 148 is opened by both ends of the supply unit of the developing device 14. The shutter member 136 is pushed so that the toner can be supplied from the supply port 133f of the holder member 130 to the toner supply port 148 of the developing device 14.

  In the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80, as shown in FIG. 21, when the process cartridge 80 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 1a, the shutter member 149 that closes the toner supply port 148 is a holder member of the toner supply device 110. 130 is contacted. Thereafter, along with the operation of mounting the process cartridge 80 on the image forming apparatus main body 1a, the shutter member 149 of the developing device 14 is pushed by the holder member 130 to open the toner supply port 148 and the shutter of the holder member 130. The member 136 is pushed by the flange portion of the developing device 14, and the supply port 133f is opened. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, the toner can be supplied from the third toner conveying member 128 of the toner supply device 110 to the toner supply port 148 of the developing device 14 via the holder member 130. . The shutter member 149 of the developing device 14 is locked by a locking member (not shown) so as to stop in a state where the toner supply port 148 is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the process cartridge 80 is mounted at the operating position of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, the first driving force transmitting portion 77 of the process cartridge 80 is located on the image forming apparatus main body 1a side. By being inserted into the positioning member 97, it moves to the upper operating position. As the process cartridge 80 moves upward, the end of the developing device 14 moves upward, the elastic member 160 accommodated in the holder member 130 is compressed, and the third toner on the image forming apparatus main body 1a side is compressed. It is suppressed that a gap is generated between the conveyance unit 123 and the holder member 130.

<Operation of toner supply device>
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 145 is processed by the toner supply device 110 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the process cartridge 80 (Y, M, C, K) is supplied to the developing device 14.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 145 passes through the first and second toner conveying portions 121 and 122 of the toner replenishing device 110 and is supplied to the third toner conveying portion 123. It is conveyed to the upper end. The toner transported to the upper end of the third toner transport section 123 is moved vertically in the third toner transport path forming member 128 disposed along the substantially vertical direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1a. Then, the toner is transported to the front end portion (lower end portion) of the third toner transport path forming member 128 so as to fall downward along the vertical direction by the transport member 129 that is movably driven along. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the holder member 130 is attached to the tip of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 via a snap fit portion including a protrusion 150 and a second engagement portion 134. Are attached to be displaceable in the direction (Y direction) of the toner and the direction (Y direction) intersecting the toner transport direction.

  At this time, the mounting position of the third toner transport path forming member 128 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1a is caused by a manufacturing error of the third toner transport path forming member 128, an error in the mounting position (see FIG. 10), or the like. Thus, there may be a tolerance within a range allowed in advance with respect to the normal mounting position. Further, the mounting position of the process cartridge 80 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1a has a tolerance with respect to the normal mounting position due to manufacturing error of each member constituting the process cartridge 80, displacement at the time of positioning, and the like. There is a case.

  By the way, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the holder member 130 is disposed at the tip of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 at the toner conveyance direction (Z direction) and the toner. It is attached so as to be displaceable along a direction (Y direction) intersecting the transport direction. Therefore, even if there is a relative displacement between the front end portion 128a of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 of the toner replenishing device 110 and the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80, the third toner The holder member 130 is displaced with respect to the conveyance path forming member 128 along the toner conveyance direction (Z direction) and in the direction of contacting and separating from the photosensitive drum 11 (Y direction). Relative misalignment existing between 128 and the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80 is absorbed. At this time, the positional deviation along the toner conveyance direction is caused by the elastic deformation of the elastic member 160 interposed between the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 and the holder member 130 along the thickness (height) direction. To be absorbed. Further, the positional deviation along the direction of contact with and away from the photosensitive drum 11 is absorbed by the elastic member 160 elastically deforming along the radial direction of the guide hole 161.

  As described above, even if there is a relative displacement between the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 of the toner replenishing device 110 and the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80, the elastic member 160 of the toner replenishing device 110 is not affected. Absorbed by elastic deformation. Therefore, even if there is a relative misalignment between the toner replenishing device 110 and the process cartridge 80, the relative misalignment is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member 160, and the external force due to the misalignment is retained in the holder. Transmission to the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80 via the member 130 is suppressed. In addition, the reaction force accompanying the elastic deformation of the elastic member 160 is very small and is negligible. Therefore, the developing device 14 of the process cartridge 80 receives an external force from the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 of the toner replenishing device 110, and the developing device 14 moves from an appropriate position, so that the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roll It is avoided or suppressed that the gap with respect to 141 changes from the required DRS. The electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive drum 11 is satisfactorily developed by the developing roll 141 of the developing device 14 held in the required DRS, and the image quality is improved.

  Further, the toner replenishing device 110 is configured such that the third toner transport path forming member 128 and the holder member 130 are relatively engaged by the snap-fit portions 134 and 150 in a state where the elastic member 160 is accommodated in the holder member 130. Compared to the case where an elastic member made of a rubber tube is provided in a part of the toner conveyance path, a complicated assembly operation such as inserting both ends of the rubber tube into the cylindrical member of the toner conveyance path becomes unnecessary. 110 can be easily assembled. Further, the elastic member 160 interposed between the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 and the holder member 130 may be formed of an elastic body such as urethane foam, and an increase in cost is avoided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the toner replenished inside the developing device 14 passes through a conveying member 143a formed integrally at an end portion along the axial direction of the second agitating and conveying member 143. Then, it is conveyed to the second agitating and conveying member 143. As shown in FIG. 3, the toner conveyed to the second agitating / conveying member 143 and the developer 4 accommodated in the housing 140 of the developing device 14 by the second agitating / conveying member 143 that is driven to rotate. While being agitated, the second agitating and conveying member 143 is conveyed along the axial direction. The developer 4 conveyed to the end position along the axial direction of the second agitating / conveying member 143 is transferred to the first agitating / conveying member 142 and along the axial direction of the first agitating / conveying member 142. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is supplied to the developing roller 141 while being agitated with the developer 4 contained in the housing 140 of the developing device 14. It is used for development.

  Further, when the process cartridge 80 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 1a, as shown in FIG. 11, the lifting lever 86 provided at the end on the near side along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80 is moved to the near side. By rotating in the tilting direction, the front end along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80 is lowered. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the process cartridge 80 is pulled out to the front side along the mounting direction (X direction) with respect to the cartridge support portion 91 of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, whereby the process cartridge 80 is removed from the image forming apparatus. It is removed from the main body 1a. At that time, the end on the back side along the mounting direction (X direction) of the process cartridge 80 is moved to the end on the back side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a in accordance with the operation of pulling out from the operation position of the image forming apparatus main body 1a. The photosensitive drum 11 of the process cartridge 80 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 21 by moving away from the provided positioning portion 97 and moving downward.

  Then, the shutter member 149 of the developing device 14 moves from the holder member 130 of the toner replenishing device 110 as the process cartridge 80 moves to the near side along the mounting direction (X direction) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1a. As shown in FIG. 21A, the toner supply port 148 of the developing device 14 is closed by the shutter member 149, and the supply port 133 f of the holder member 130 is closed by the shutter member 136.

  As described above, according to the toner replenishing device 110 according to the above-described embodiment, the toner replenishing device 110 can be easily assembled as compared with the case where the elastic member made of the rubber tube is provided in a part of the developer conveyance path. Become.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a developer supply device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, the elastic member 160 is not accommodated in the holder member 130, but a double-sided tape (not shown) is provided on the flange portion 152 provided integrally with the lower end surface of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128. Is glued through. The elastic member 160 bonded to the flange portion 152 of the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 is accommodated in the holder member 130.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of positional deviation between the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 and the elastic member 160. In addition, when a displacement occurs between the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 and the holder member 130, the outer peripheral portion of the elastic member 160 is pressed against the inner surface of the accommodating portion 133 of the holder member 130. Misalignment between the guide hole 161 of the elastic member 160 and the supply port 135 of the holder member 130 is also suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 is disposed above the developing device 14 in the vertical direction has been described. However, the third toner conveyance path forming member 128 is disposed on the developing device 14. Of course, it may be arranged horizontally.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the third toner conveying path forming member is provided with the protrusion as the engaging portion and the holder member is provided with the opening as the engaging portion has been described. Alternatively, the toner transport path forming member 3 may be provided with an opening, and the holder member may be provided with a protrusion.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the protrusion and the opening are used as the engaging portion has been described. However, the engaging portion is connected to the developer conveying direction and the developer conveying direction at the end of the developer conveying member on the developing device side. Any means may be used as long as it can be displaced in a direction crossing the developer conveyance direction, and it may be constituted by a protruding guide member and a guide groove for guiding the guide member.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 1a ... Image forming apparatus main body 110 ... Toner replenishing apparatus 128 ... 3rd toner conveyance path formation member 130 ... Holder member 160 ... Elastic member

Claims (8)

A developer conveying member that conveys the developer to the developing device;
A joining member that is attached to an end of the developer conveying member on the developing device side so as to be relatively displaceable with the developer conveying member, and is joined to the developing device so that the developer can be replenished;
An elastic member interposed between the developer conveying member and the joining member, and having a guide hole for guiding the developer from the developer conveying member to the joining member;
A developer supply device comprising:   The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is accommodated in a recess provided in the joining member.   3. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is provided in a state of being fixed to an end surface of the developer conveying member on the developing device side.   The developer conveying member and the joining member are connected to allow movement in the developer conveying direction and a direction intersecting with the developer conveying direction through a relatively coupled convex portion and concave portion. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishing device is provided.   5. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein when the joining member is joined to the developing device, the joining member is displaced together with the developing device toward the developer transport member. 6. An image carrier for holding an electrostatic latent image on the surface;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image held on the surface of the image carrier with a developer;
Developer supplying means for supplying developer to the developing means;
With
An image forming apparatus using the developer supply device according to claim 1 as the developer supply means.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the developing unit is provided to be swingable about a swing fulcrum in a direction in which the developing unit is in contact with or separated from the image holding member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image holding member and the developing unit constitute an image forming unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

Images